News Releases

(Dallas, Texas – May 27, 2009) In an effort to improve water quality and create jobs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $259,000 to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. A total of $39 million will be awarded nationally to states for Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) grants, which will keep and create jobs to help prevent water pollution and protect human health and the environment. "The Recovery Act investments are meeting urgent needs for economic growth and protecting human health and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Communities across the nation can count on green jobs to help pull them out of this downturn and ensure the long-term strength of our economy and our environment.” “The Recovery Act presents a tremendous opportunity to invest in a cleaner, healthier environment while helping our nation get back on track,” said Acting EPA Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. “This infusion of Recovery Act funding will provide Arkansas with more resources for high priority projects, promote green practices, and create and save jobs.”Planning is an important step in EPA’s goal to improve water quality in America’s lakes, rivers and streams. WQMP grants support a broad range of activities, such as setting standards, monitoring the quality of the water, developing plans to restore polluted waters, and identifying ways to protect healthy waters from becoming polluted. States are also encouraged to use these funds for more innovative planning activities like developing plans to adapt to climate change, analyzing trends in water availability and use, and creating low-impact development programs. Grants are awarded to state agencies and some of the funds can be awarded to regional and interstate planning organizations. President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov. For information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit http://www.epa.gov/recovery/For information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Arkansas, visit http://www.epa.gov/region6/